Skatehere: How did the name Xiao Xiao Hu come about? I also remember you telling me one day you chose an english name Tagore, and I told you it sounded like a caveman’s name. How did you get that name and you still plan on using that name for english?

XXH: In Xi’An, the owner of our local skateshop’s name was Xiao Hu (Lil’ Tiger), and my name was as well. When I first started skating, it was with him, so they called me Xiao Xiao Hu to tell us apart (Lil’ Lil’ Tiger). My english name Tagore came about cause I directly translated the chinese phonetic spelling of Tiger. I’m not sure what foreigners will think of this English name, but it’s kind of similar to them choosing a weird Chinese name.

Skatehere: What is the scene like in Xi’An, who are some of the locals you skate with back home? Who did you look up to when you first started skating? How did you start skating there and which skateshop helped you out a lot when you were younger?

XXH: I think the scene is pretty good! I usually skate in GuLou with some close friends. When I first started skating I didn’t really understand the concept of watching skate videos, so some of the idols that I have in skateboarding are the skaters I’ve met in person or seen shred it up. I do remember when I first started skating, I saw Xiao Pang from Taiwan and Yang Guang from Shan Xi shredding it up in Gulou. When I saw them I just sat by the side in awe hahahaha. After I skated for about half a year, I got sponsored by Street Dreams skateshop, whose owner was Lil’ Tiger, and I would skate with him alot. He would teach me the basics of skateboarding and always gave me boards. I really appreciate all the help he gave me; he let me focus on skating and not worry about other things.

Skatehere: Among some of the new guys coming up in China, which ones do you think are killing it the hardest?

XXH: I feel like in the past two years everyone has been progressing really fast. But I think Gao Qun Xiang is killing it the hardest at the moment. We skate together alot, but he knows skateboarding like the back of his hand, and doesn’t have excuses like I do haha He will absolutely go pro in the future, skating with him always motivates me.

Skatehere: Why do you like backside 360’s so much and does your head hurt from spinning?

XXH: Because when I went to Chengdu for FISE, I saw Ikeda Daisuke from Japan doing them super stylish and from then on I wanted to learn them hahaha, It wasn’t just me trying to learn it either, all the pros competing in the contest were all trying to learn them haha I definitely don’t get dizzy from doing 360′s.

Skatehere: How do you view the whole “Skateboarding is in the Olympics” phenomenon? How do you think it will affect the world when it comes to skateboarding, and how do you think it will affect China when it comes to skateboarding?

XXH: I don’t really have any views towards it. Skateboarding entering the Olympics is not going to change the way I skate or how I see skateboarding. But as for what kind of influence it may have to the world…I think during contests you’re going to be representing your country more instead of your sponsors. As for China, I think the government itself will support skateboarding more, which is a good thing.

Skatehere: You released a part earlier this year with a back 50-50 down the handrail as your last trick, I heard you tried to go back for the back smith. Can you give us a bit more story of what happened that night?

XXH: The handrail was at Guangzhou University. I went there knowing I wanted to land the Backside smith, and only 5050 the rail to try it out. But after I landed the 5050, there was a security guard that came and started kicking us out. He then called more and more security guards to come over, and after alot of arguing we packed our things and pretended we were leaving. As the rest of the Converse team chilled out on another side, me and the filmer snuck back to film the trick. But at that point, after all the arguing with the security guards, I wasn’t as warmed up anymore. I gave it 3 tries, bailed pretty hard and ended up giving up.

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Skatehere:你怎么加入Fly Streetwear的呢？是因为Game Of Skate里面赢了Johnny Tang么？

XXH: 哈哈哈哈，我好像从来没有赢过Johnny Tang。

Skatehere: How did you end up getting on FLY Streetwear, did you have to beat Johnny Tang in a game of skate?

Skatehere: FLY keeps stressing Family dysfunction, so who on FLY…is the most technical? Has the biggest balls? Is the most serious? Drinks the most? Fights the most? Shits the most? Which foreigner speaks the best Chinese?

XXH: I think Johnny’s the most technical, Adee’s got the biggest balls, Jeff is the most serious, and Edan drinks the most, shits the most, and speaks the best Chinese.

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Skatehere:当你和Adee一起滑板你不想做一个动作的时候，你最喜欢用的借口是什么？

XXH: 因为街上的地形一般都不是完美的，所以我会说这个加速不太够啊，或者落地不太好啊，或者我腿还挺疼的。借口嘛想一下总是有的。

Skatehere: What is your favorite excuse to give to Adee when you don’t want to skate something?

XXH: Since alot of street spots aren’t very perfect, I would always say that there isn’t enough run-up, the landing’s a bit sketchy, or my legs kinda hurt. Now that I think about it, I always have excuses.

Skatehere: How long did it take for you to film your Welcome to FLY part? What was the story behind this video/trip?

XXH: This time for this video, I only had a week. We all went to Chengdu’s Five Star Barber Shop and me, Adee and Joe each got a haircut. Adee’s haircut was like nothing changed, but me and Joe both took some time getting used to it.

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Skatehere: 如果你可以去全世界任何一个地方滑板，你最想去哪里滑板？

XXH: 我最想去东京或者哥本哈根。不过东京离得近，所以如果可以优先去东京。

Skatehere: If you could travel anywhere in the world to skate who would you bring with you to hype the session up?

XXH: I want to go skate Tokyo or Copenhagen the most. But since Tokyo is closer, I’ll probably go to Tokyo first.

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Skatehere: 你现在最想练的动作是什么？你会去一个什么样的地形去做？

XXH: Kickflip BS Nose Blunt。我会去梦里试一下。

Skatehere:What trick would you like to perfect the most and what spot would you like to battle for a trick on?

XXH: Kickflip Backside Noseblunt. I’ll try them in my dreams.

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Skatehere: 你接下来几年有什么计划？有任何滑板Trip吗，还是拍摄更多滑板Video还是参加更多比赛？

XXH: 我就打算一直滑，拍video 比赛 滑板trip我觉得都是滑板的一部分，所以都会去做。

Skatehere: What do you have planned for the next few years? Any plans on taking any skate trips, filming video parts and/or competitions?

XXH: I’ll just keep skating, filming, competitions, and skate trips are all a part of skateboarding so I’m gonna do them all!